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City of Mount Carmel City Council met Feb. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Judge brought the City Council meeting to order.

Present on Roll Call: Mayor Joe Judge Commissioners – Eric Ikemire, Tyson Meador, Susan Zimmerman

Also, Present: City Administrative Assistant Ryan Turner

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mayor Judge requested a motion to approve the minutes of the last council meeting.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 5, 2024. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioner Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Judge acknowledged Matt Pyatt with Lockhaven Storage, who had recently purchased the property located at 1903 W. Ninth Street and will be building outdoor storage units for boats, RV’s etc. on the property. Mr. Pyatt gave an overview of the plans for the development of the property.

City Administrative Assistant Turner stated Mr. Pyatt has filed a TIF application for monetary assistance with the project. Mayor Judge gave an overview of the TIF assistance recommendations from Moran Economic Development. After discussing the options, the council approved the lump sum payment option in the amount of $12,000.00 from TIF 6.

Mayor Judge announced the city will be celebrating the “Eclipse” at Merchants Park on April 7th and 8th with a concert as well as food trucks on the evening of the 7th; on the Monday, April 8th, Market Street will be blocked off from Third to Fourth Streets with food trucks, vendors and music. Mayor Judge reminded solar glasses are still for sell at city hall for $1.00 and free dry-camping is being offered at the city park along with the Junior Aces parking lot on Golden Aces Way. Mayor Judge encouraged everyone to come out and enjoy all the festivities. Mayor Judge stated city hall will be closed on April 8th and city employees will be redeployed to various sites for support.

Mayor Judge reported he received notification that, unfortunately, the city was not awarded any monies from the parks grant that was applied for the city swimming pool.

Mayor Judge opened and the read the one bid for the two vehicles that are for sell: Bishop Motors bid $127.00 for the Dodge Ram truck and $117.00 for the Ford truck. Mayor Judge stated Bishop Motors’ bid is appreciated and recommended the council not accept the bids, as the city would receive more money if the vehicles were sold for scrap.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER TYSON MEADOR – STREETS, CEMETERIES AND PARKS

Commissioner Meador reported, over the last two weeks, the street department continued the work on Division Street; filled potholes; reworked alleys; plowed snow on city streets; performed routine maintenance and started some prep work for the spring season.

COMMISSIONER ERIC IKEMIRE – FINANCE AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Statement of Receipts and Expenditures – See attached agenda with financials.

Commissioner Ikemire reported, over the last two weeks, revenues totaled $322,789.00 and expenses were $130,393.00; the majority of the revenue came from sales tax and state income tax with the city being in good shape on the revenue side of the budget.

Commissioner Ikemire stated the new kitchen equipment for the Senior Citizens Center is in and should be operable soon.

COMMISSIONER TOM MEEKS – WATER AND SEWER

Commissioner Meeks absent.

COMMISSIONER SUSAN ZIMMERMAN – FIRE, HEALTH & SAFETY, GARBAGE, CITY HALL AND CIVIL DEFENSE

Commissioner Zimmerman reported, over the past two weeks, the fire department responded to thirteen runs with several of calls being related to the snowy weather and icy roads. Commissioner Zimmerman commended the public works department for the fabulous job of cleaning the roads and thanked them for their hard work.

Commissioner Zimmerman stated the brush department is running the normal route and reminded residents to make sure only brush is put out in the piles for pick-up.

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RYAN TURNER

City Administrative Assistant Turner reiterated the council had already approved the TIF agreement with R&T Realty/Rob Dean and stated a resolution has to be adapted for the disbursement of the TIF funds. City Administrative Assistant Turner presented Resolution 701 to the council for approval.

City Administrative Assistant Turner reported he had reviewed the numbers for the possibility of the city’s crew taking care of cemetery mowing and stated the cemetery budget could not absorb that expense, at this time. City Administrative Assistant Turner stated the council has the submitted bids for the cemetery mowing and asked for direction from the council. Mayor Judge read from a fact sheet from the Illinois Municipal League regarding the bidding of public works projects. Mayor Judge reread the bids, which had been submitted at the January 22nd council meeting: K & K Small Jobs - $25,800.00 and Kimmel’s Lawn Care - $35,000.00. The council approved the low bid from K & K Small Jobs, which follows the IML bidding process guidelines.

CITY ATTORNEY – DEREK MCCULLOUGH

City Attorney McCullough absent.

AIRPORT MANAGER – LUIS GARCIA

Airport Manager Garica reported the airport received approximately six inches of snow on Friday and he worked several hours on Friday afternoon as well as on Saturday clearing the runways. Mayor Judge interjected by stating if the airport has obstructions, it has to be shut down and Mr. Garcia followed protocol by phoning in that the airport was shut down due to the snow.

POLICE CHIEF – MIKE MCWILLIAMS

Police Chief McWilliams reported there were several accidents due to the snow on Friday and thanked the street department crew for their hard work on clearing the streets.

FIRE CHIEF – FRANCIS SPETH

Fire Chief Speth reported the fire department assisted with accidents due to the snowy weather on Friday afternoon.

Fire Chief Speth reminded residents, with the weather starting to be nicer, to please do not burn any yard waste and to set bagged leaves along with limbs out for the city’s brush crew to pick-up.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR – MIKE GIDCUMB

Public Works Director Gidcumb reported for Commissioner Meeks, who was absent.

Public Works Director Gidcumb stated the RAS Flow Meter was installed at the wastewater plant, per IEPA regulations; the number four screw pump for the RAS Flow Meter needs to be replaced, as it is inoperable and he will present the costs at the next council meeting for that issue.

Public Works Director Gidcumb reported, over the last two weeks, the water/sewer maintenance department performed twenty-five locates; are rerouting a service line for 415 ½ N. Market Street; conferred with C & C Pumps regarding the Oak Street Booster Station and the pressure valve was adjusted to alleviate the issue; repaired service line leaks at 421 W. 9th Street and 618 N. Walnut Street.

Public Works Director Gidcumb stated a new chlorine line and valves were installed at the water treatment plant; a water leak was repaired in the basement of the current plant.

WABASH COUNTY E.M.A.

Wabash County E.M.A. Representative Rhonda Banks absent.

BUSINESS MOTIONS

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to provide Lockhaven Storage $12,000.00 from TIF 6 for the purpose of new construction. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Commissioner Zimmerman motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to not accept the vehicle bids. Vehicles to scrap. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to accept Resolution 701, Contract with R&T (Robert Dean). All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to accept the mowing bid from K & K Small jobs for $25,800.00. This is a one -year contract. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador, and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Commissioner Meador motioned and Commissioner Ikemire seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. The consent agenda contained approval of the paying of all bills bearing the proper signatures. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Meador seconded to move to Executive Session. All present voted by roll call vote. Commissioner Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Regular session of the council meeting recessed at 4:35 pm for executive session

Commissioner Meador motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to exit executive session. All present voted by roll vote. Commissioners Ikemire, Meador and Zimmerman voted Aye.

Executive session ended at 5:36 pm. Regular session resumed with council members present.

Commissioner Ikemire motioned and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded to adjourn the meeting. All present voted Aye by voice vote.

Meeting adjourned at 5:37 pm

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/11670/02-20-2024_minutes.pdf